Puzzle



Dec. 2,1947! J. MORRIS PUZZLE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nwv llr m m m Jbkfi Maimzis INVENTOR.

Dec. 2, 1947. I J, MORRIS 2,432,031

PUZZLE Filed Aug. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

' HTTORNEVQS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1947 AT E OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a puzzle of that type utilizing interfittingstrips of Wood or other material which can be assembled to form objectsof different designs, the separation of the parts following thecompletion of an article, being dependent on the removal of one only ofthe strips which, because of its contour and position, is difficult todistinguish from the other strips incorporated within the article.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel, detailsof construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more described andpointed out in the claims, it

eing understood that changes may be made in the construction andarrangement of parts with out departing from the spirit of the inventionas claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an article formed of stripsconstituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing thetop portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the puzzle.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another and longer element of thepuzzle.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a split key, forming a part of thepuzzle.

The puzzle can be made up of any desired number of pieces depending uponthe number and size of the articles to be made therewith. Each set ofpieces includes one or more elongated strips I each of which has aplurality of spaced slots 2 formed therein at desired intervals alongthe longitudinal center of the strip, the slots all being soproportioned as to correspond with the breadth and thickness of thestrip I. Other shorter strips I can be used, each of these beingprovided with single central slot 2' of the same size and shape as theslots 2. Strips I are also preferably of the same width and thickness asthe strips I.

There are used with the strips I and I certain key strips one of whichhas been shown in detail in Figure 6. Each key strip 3 is made up ofopposed longitudinal members 4 and 5. The member 4 has its longitudinalfaces parallel while at one end of the member there is provided a head 6extending laterally from the member in distance equal to the width ofone of the slots 2 or 2'. The

member 5 of the key strip is provided at one end with a head I similarto the head 5 and extended laterally a distance equal to the width ofany one of the slots 2 and 2. Extended from member 5 at the same side onwhich head I is located are spacing blocks 8 so proportioned that whenhead I is placed against member 4 and head 6 is placed against member 5with the two members oppositely disposed as at Figure 6, the spacingblocks 8 will engage the member 4. Thus the two members 4 and 5 willcooperate to produce a strip having slots proportioned and arranged likethe slots 2.

Other key strips shorter than the key strips 3 can be used and some ofthese have been shown at 9. These shorter key strips are also made up ofopposed members like the ones shown in Figure 6 but, instead of havingspacing slots between them, the members are separated solely by theheads at the ends of the key strip 9, these heads being indicated atII). In a structure of this type the heads are so spaced apart that whenthe two members of the key strip are assembled the cooperate to form aslot proportioned and shaped like the slots in the other members of thepuzzle.

All of the strips making up the puzzle, whether they are one piecestrips or key strips, have their ends of the same contour. In thepresent instance all of them have end recesses II, all the recessesbeing of the same depth and width so that when all the strips areassembled in a puzzle they will look alike. The key strips can be somade that the lines of contact on the surfaces thereof where the opposedmembers come together can be practically invisible.

When it is desired to assemble the various strips for the purpose ofproducing an article, the procedure will depend upon the number ofstrips used and the kind of article to be produced. In Figure 1 there isshown a table comprising a top I2 having a depending sleeve I3proportioned to receive one end of a strip I and to fit snugly thereon.In the assembly of the parts to form this table, a strip I is insertedinto the sleeve I3 as shown in Figure 1. Thereafter another strip I canbe inserted into each of the slots 2 in the main or first placed strip Iso that the central slot 2 in the inserted strip I will be extendedthrough the slots 2 in the main strip I. This will leave the centralslots of the inserted members exposed at their ends and these exposedportions are of exactly the proper size to receive the opposed membersof a key strip 3. In order to place this key strip in position, theinserted members I are shifted longitudinally so that the central slotstherein are exposed sufiiciently to receive the member 5 of key strip 3and allow two of the blocks 8 thereof to be positioned at opposite sidesof the central or main strip I. Thereafter the inserted strip is thrustlongitudinally until the member 5 of the key strip is pressed againstthe main or central member I whereupon said member I will be straddledas shown. The other member 4 of the key strip can then be inserted intothe exposed end portion of the slot 2 in 'the inserted member I andmoved into position where its ends will be flush with the ends of thekey member 5. Thus the main or central strip I will be securely held tothe inserted strip I by the key member 3 the parts of which, whenassembled, will give this strip the same appearance as the strip IShould it be desired to add other vertical strips I to the structure,they can be slid on to the inserted strips after which short key strips9 can be assembled therewith as shown and in the same manner asheretofore explained in connection with key strips 3. 7

-It might be added that the key strips 3 can be used as a means forholding additional vertical strips I assembled with the central or mainstrip I. This is done by inserting into the openings of the addedvertical strips I short strips I and positioning them so that when thekey member 5 is inserted into position, :it can be passed successivelythrough these strips I and the inserted strips I, placed astride of saidstrips I, and then held by inserting the key member 4 through all of thestrips I. Obviously it thus becomes possible, as shown in Figure 1, toprovide 3 a standard made up of a central strip I and .four added stripsI all parallel therewith, these added strips all being locked in apredetermined relation to each other by key strips inserted therein atthe proper points. X

Other combinations than that illustrated can be made by the use of agreater'num'ber or a lesser number of strips but it is to be understoodthat in every case the final operation is the insertion of one member ofa key strip. It is further to be understood that when the key strips areassembled they will look like the other strips making up the puzzle sothat when an effort is made to separate the parts by a person notacquainted with the exact structure, considerable difiiculty will beexperienced in locating the proper piece to be first withdrawn. In everycase, after the key member 4 has been withdrawn, the other partsthereafter can be successively dislconnec't'ed.

What is claimed is:

A puzzle including separate strips each having a slot of substantiallythe same size and proportions as the transverse area of the stripthereby to receive one of the strips when inserted thereinto, and a keystrip comprising opposed members proportioned for insertion in therespective end portions of a slot in the inserted strip when positionedwithin and transversely of another slotted strip, each of said membershaving a head at one 'of its ends constituting means for snugly fittingagainst the other end of the opposed member, spaced blocks on one of themembers cooperating with the heads and the opposed member to provideslots each of substantially the same size and proportions as thetransverse area of one of the slotted strips, one of the members havingfiat longitudinal faces extended from the head at one end of the memberto the other end of the member, each of said faces being parallel withthe corresponding opposed face of the member, said last-named memberbeing removab-le solely by shifting it longitudinally in the directionof its head.

JOHN MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 970,637 Morris Sept. 20, 19191,099,159 Banic June 9, 1914 1,455,009 Schenk May 15., 1923

